Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-02-05
MAP F0B LYON COUNTY.

One oil the sources oil complaint IN every
community Is the high rate Of taxation, and
the apparent discrimination in favor of the
wealthy, and against the comparatively
poor. 1t seems next to an impossibility, for
the Assessor to so regulate values, that every
dollar of taxable property will bear its just
proportion Of the expense Of our common
government. While every one can see and
deplore the iHadequacy Of our system, none
seem willing to take upon themselves the re.
sponsibility Of promulgating better plan.
u it is true that the present arrangement
favors the rich. it cannot be expected that
the rich viii be anxious for a reformation.
II 1t is true that it discrimnates against the
poor, then II is the dnty Of the poor to cause
such steps to be taken, as are necessary, to
the end, that Justice may be done, to the
rich and poor alike. Lyon county is pros
porous. The resources Of Lyon county are
great and varied. In her soil, her climate.
and her mineral deposits she posses untold
millions. On her salubrious climate no dis
elimination can be made, the air we breathe
is free to all. The glorious sunshine and
the copious showers descend upon the rich
and poor alike. Her wealth of minerals are
secure from the tax gatherer until they have
reached the hands Of the miner, and are
converted into dollars and cents. But in her
broad acres there is value which should be
accessible to the Assessor, and where the
valuation may be made uniform. Even here
there are difficulties to overcome, and some
thought, care and research are necessary, in
order that the Assessor may be enabled to
perform his duty accurately, expediciousy
and justly. Thousands of valuable acres
remain untaxed year after year. The Assessor
although he may be aware Of the fact, and
willing to do his duty faithfully and fully,
yet, for the want Of a proper map to guide
him, Is powerless to more than approximate
the acreage and the valuation. This is a
difficulty which may be overcome. This
untaxed land is almost entirely owned by
non residents. There are no improvements
what the Assessor needs is a map of our
county, laid out in townships and sections,
with each piece of property distinctly marked
as far as practicable, and the ownership
stated as far as known. For our towns and
villages, where the real estate is divided in.
to small parcels, this distinction might be
unnecessary, but among our ranches and
grazing lands this system is practicable, and
necessary, if we would secure to our county
the revenue which it is justly entitled to,
and by thus collecting from non residents,
that which it is just for them to pay, we may
tighten somewhat the burden imposed upon
our friends and neighbors.
We have a new Board OF County Com
missioners;:t is composed of representative
men Of our couaty. 1t is hoped that they
will consider this matter. Our county is
destined to improve in wealth and population
as the years roll by. Every coming year
will increase the need of a map such as in
dicated. Every year that passes without
such map is just so much revenue lost to
the county. Ormsby and Washoe counties
are provided with such maps, and as the
public lands are appropriated, the Assessor
makes the necessary changes thereon, and
consequently their returns are full and com.
plete, and all the property of the county
pays its share Of taxation.